Peanut sounds like a normal active kit or youngster.  Many of those calm
down over the years and start to cuddle.
 
Answered your other question in yesterday's FML.  If you don't have
it write SEND FERRET 3792 to <[log in to unmask]>, also use
encouragement and praise since they work very well while punishment
often backfires.
 
A GREAT intro book to ferrets is _Ferrets for Dummies_ by Kim
Schilling; it even get used by those of us who have had ferrets for
decades.
 
>I think this is probably the main cause of small underdeveloped 8
>week old kits that appear for sale from time to time.
 
Interesting info!  Another cause is running into a bad distributor or pet
store; just a week of poor food intake has large ramifications for how the
kit appears and acts -- starvation or food reduction at that stage is a
BAD thing!  Think about human babies who are malnourished and what
happens rapidly to them as a result.
 
         --------
 
Here's what I overheard near a floodlight on a tall building in Gotham:
 
" Well, gee whilikers, Batman, I guess this means it's another nefarious
rumor by the Masked Mouth!"
 
"Yes, Robin, people hear these and then they believe them and tell lists
all the juicy -- all too false -- details"
 
"Gadzookes, Batman!  After seeing over and over again that something
like 90% to 95% of the rumors that circulate are false you'd think
they would realize!"
 
"No, Robin!  People want to help and they think that if they hear
something from a well-meaning soul who is upset that those things must
have foundation, so they forget that in fact the Masked Mouth may have
begun yet another salacious slander, as is USUALLY the case."
 
"Golly Gee Gooeywogs, Batman!  What can people do to help foil the Masked
Mouth?"
 
"That's easy, Robin!  Before they pass something along they can VERIFY
what they have been told.  It unmasks the Masked Mouth -- or at least the
falsehoods -- most of the time!"
 
>>Simple fact of the matter is that if MF kits wind up in places where
>>folks are ferret knowledgeable they wind up no worse in terms of health...
 
>It's NOT a "simple fact" Sukie.
 
It has been here.
 
That is with 20 years of ferrets from an assortment of places.  Most from
anywhere make it to late in the 7th year into middle of the 8th year
(some older and some younger) and most have pretty consistent health.
Now, some private breeders are better, but not all are, so that is why
it's important that folks keep and provide health and longevity records.
I can't speak for your experiences and you cant' speak for mine.  Those
are mine and that's the plain and simple fact of the matter, whether it
pleases you or not.
 
Alicia got it right; what we need are laws in each state not allowing
shipping or sale form ANYONE below 8 weeks, and distributed dental
eruption charts.
[Posted in FML issue 3793]